Fluid-pressure engine.



No; 702,60l. f Patented June |7,-'|eo2.- A. 0. SMITH.

FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE.

(Applieltion filed July 94, 1901.) (No lloflel.) 2 Sheets-Shoat 2."

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UNITED STATES; P T ENT OFFICE.

AMOUR OOLUMBUSSMITH, NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD S. JAFFRAY,TRUSTEE, OF IRVINGTQN, NEW YORK.

"FLUlD PRESSURE ENGiNl-I.

SPECIFICATION forming part of-Iletters Tatent No. -702,6( )1,"dated-.Jfune 17, 1902.

Application filed uly 24,120]; I SerialNo. 69,527. (No model) To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I,;AMouR COLUMBUS SMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city and State ofNew York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inFluid-Pressure Engines, of which the following is a specification. w Myinvention relatesto improvements in fluid-pressure engines which aredesigned es-.

pecially for use in connection with steam-automobiles, but which, may beemployedin many other arts and with otherffluid-pressures, such ascompressed air, carbonic-acid gas, &c. 7

My object is to provide a very simple, compact, and efficient engine forthe purpose. When used, as is preferred, as the operatingmotor of asteamautomobile, .the invention also contemplates the employment of anauxiliary feed-water pump and an'air-compressing pump, one or both, theformer supplying water to the boiler and the latter furnishingcompressed air to the gasolene-tank.

In order that the invention may be better understood, attention isdirected to theac companying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure 1 is a-plan Vl6W; vation; Fig. 3, avertical sectional View, and

Fig. 4 a section onthe line 140f Fig. 3. s In all of the above viewscorresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference.

My invention comprises generally an inclosed casing 1, preferably castas thin as possible consistent with the necessary strength and made ofany suitable metal. Mounted within the casing l are pressure-cylinders 22 of any suitable number and dimensions. Preferably three cylinders areemployed, i n which case the casing will partake of the approximatelytriangular form inv side elevation which is illustrated butobviouslymore or less cylinders may be employed,lthe casing beingcorrespondingly modified to accommodate them. Each cylinder 2 is mountedon trunnions 3 3, taking in bearings 4 in the casing,whereby thecylinders may oscillate i'n operation. The end of each cylinder isformed with an integral-rounded head 5, as shown,

Fig. 2, a side eieg having two ports 6 and 7 therein. Cooperating withthe rounded end of each cylinder is a cap '8, constituting a valvechambe'r, the

I from which-extends a rod 15. The pistonrods are formed with enlargedheads 16 at their inner ends, which" heads are providedwithcurvedgrooves, with which cooperate the antifriction-balls 17. Theseballs work within a grooved wrist-pin 18, secured to theface of a disk19. Each of the pistonrods is provided near its lower end with ashoulder or ofiset 20, and over theseshoulders engages the flanged cap21, which is carried on a pin 22, extending out from the wrist-pin 18.

The 'crank-disk 19 is fast to the main shaft 23,,which is supported byautifriction-balls" 24; These balls work between inclined rings 25 and26, which form the ways in which the balls rotate. The ring25bears-against a shoulder 27 on an adjusting-sleeve28, threaded into aseat 29, cast with oneofthe side members ofsthe casing -1. Thering '26is mounted within the sleeve 28 andis adjusted by. means of a sleeve 30,threadedinto the sleeve 28. A packing'3l is interposed between .theshaft23 and the sleeve 3Q, Which packing is held in place by a sleeve32,-threadedinto the sleeve 30. Preferably the threads on the sleeves 28and 30 oppose each other, one being right-handed and the other beinglefthanded, so that byturning saidsleevesin the same direction therings25 and 26jmay be adj usted toward'or away from each other to take upwear between saidlrings and the balls 24 or to relieve any crampingbetween such moving parts. Carried by the shaft 23 is a sprocket wheel33, preferably screwed in place and held in position by a jam-nut 34.The shaft 23 is provided with a chamber 35 therein, closed by ascrew-cap 36. A series of perforations 37 extend from the chamber to thegroove in the shaft, as shown, so that by placing withinthe chamber 35 asuitable semisolid lubricant the latter will be permitted to passthrough the channels 37 to lubricate the balls 24 in use.

Connecting with the chambers 10 and 11 in the caps 8 are steam-passages38 and 39, respectively, which lead to a controlling-chamber 40, castwith the casing l in line with the shaft 23. The steam-passages 38 and39 may be cast with the casing, or they may be separate pipes,preferably the former, in which case the joint between said passages andthe caps 8 will be closed or broken when the caps are applied in placeor are removed for any purpose. Mounted in the chamber 4-0 is acontrolling-valve 41, having a stem 42, mounted in a bearing formed in acap 43 and havinga lever 4i secured to its outer end and by means ofwhich the valve may be operated. The valve 41 is provided with a centralchamber 45, with which a steam-passage 46 connects, said passage beingformed in the casing l and extending to a coupling 4-7, to which a pipe48 may be secured. The steam passage 46 leads through a nipple 49, whichextends within the chamber -15, and interposed between said nipple andthe valve 41 is a packing 50, as shown in Fig. 4-. Extending through thebody of the valve 11 are ports 51, which are adapted to be brought intoline simultaneously with the inner ends of the passages 38 and 39, asmay he desired. The valve is also provided with pockets 52, which arecaused to register with the steam-passages 38 and 39. It will beunderstood that by shifting the lever 14: all the pockets 52 may becaused to register with the st ewn-passages 3S and all thesteam-passages 51 simultaneously caused to register with thesteam-passages 39, or vice versa. The pockels connect with the space 53between the valve and the cap 43, and leading out of the steam-space 53is a passage 54, connected with a nipple 55, from which a pipe 56 maylead.

Steam or other fluid pressure may be supplied to the pipe l8 or 56, asmay be desired, the other pipe being employed for the ex hanst. As anexample I will in describing the operation refer to the introduction ofsteam by the pipe 56 to the steam-space 53, the exhaust being effectedthrough the passage 46 from the center of the valve; but obviously thereverse arrangement may be adopted.

When the improved motor is employed, as is preferable, for the operationof small steamautomobiles, I make use of a cooperating water and airpump for supplying feed-water to the boiler and furnishing compressedair to the gasolene-tank, respectively. To this end I secure at one sideof the casing 1 a Water-pump 57, comprising a cylinder, with avalve-casing 58 at one side thereof. lVorking in the cylinder is aplunger 59, which passes up through a stufiing-box 60. The

plunger is operated by a rod 61, connected to arms 62, which arms aresecured to the trnnnions 3 of one of the cylindersfor example, the upperone. The valve-chamber 58 is provided with an admission-valve 63 and anexhaust-valve 64 of the ordinary puppet type, whereby water will beforced from a suction-pipe 65 through a discharge-pipe (36 into theboiler or elsewhere. The arms 62 are preferably bent toward each otherat their ends, so as to constitute a yoke, which does not add to thespace occupied by the motor and which is readily accessible for thepurposes of repair.

The air-pump comprises a casing 67, having, preferably, a water-jacket68, by which it may be cooled by circulating water, (for example, fromthe pump 57,) and mounted within said casing is a cylindrical sleeve 69,having a port at its bottom. W'orking within the sleeve is a plunger 71,operated from a rod 72, connected with the other end of the yoke-arms62. At the bottom of the casing 67 is an admission-valve 73 and aspring-pressed discharge-valve 74 for permitting discharge of air totake place through the port 70 to the exit-pipe 75.

The operation is as follows: The controlling-valve being in the positionshown in Fig. 2, the steam-pockets 52 will be in an intermediateposition between the passages 38 and 39, and in consequence no steam canpass to the cylinders, so that the motor will be at rest. By moving thecontrolling-lever l4 to the right in Fig. 2 all the steam-pockets 52will be brought to registration with the steampassages 38, while theexhaust-passages 51 will register with the exhaust-passages 39. Steamwill therefore be supplied, for example, to all the chambers 8 of thevalve-casing.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the uppermost cylinder is inan intermediate position, the piston thereof being retracted to itsfarthest extent. The cylinder at the right will be oscillated by thepiston-rod thereof, as will be obvious, and the port 7 will registerwith the port 13 from the pocket 8, ad mitting steam to said cylinder tofurther propel its piston outwardly to carry the uppermost cylinder fromits vertical position and bring the port 7 thereof into registrationwith the port 13, whereby the uppermost cylinder will become operative.The cylinder at the left has been moved to the other position, and itspiston is moving toward the rear end of the cylinder. The port (3 ofthis cylinder registers with the port 12, as shown, so that an exhaustcan take place through the steam-passage 39 thereof, thence through thesteam-passage 51 of the controlling-valve and passage 46. Thus it willbe seen that the oscillation of the cylinders controls the admission andexhaust of steam therefrom. If instead of moving the controlling-lever 4to the right it were moved to the left, the steam-pockets 52 would bebroughtinto registration with the steam-passages 39 and thesteam-passages 51 ITO to only slightly disclose the steam-pockets 52,

As the uppermost cylinder in Fig. 3 oscillates the yoke 62'willbecorrespondingly oscillated,

and the air and water pumps will be operated in the usual way.

Since single-acting cylinders are used, the thrust between the wrist-pin18 and the pistons will be always taken up by the antifriction-balls 17,the operative stroke of each piston being inwardly against the balls andon the reverse stroke the piston being forced outwardly by theengagement of the a'ntifrictionballs with its lower end.

It will be seen that myimproved engine is very simple in construction,it can be made very light, it is portable, it is efficient in operation,and its several parts can be readily reached for purposes of repair. Incaseof 'wear between the outer ends of the cylinders crank on the shaft,pistons in the cylinders connected to said crank, a valve-casingcooperating with the outer end of each cylinder, ports in the cylinderend and in each of said casings, two closed passages leading to I eachvalve-casing, all of said passages conmeeting with a centrally-mountedchamber, a hollow controlling-valve in said chamber, a plurality ofpockets in the face of said valve, a plurality of passages extendingthrough said valve to its hollow center, a nipple mounted in the hollowcenter of said valve, a packing between said nipple and the valve, and apassage leading from said nipple, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fluid-pressure motor, the combination of a casing, a pluralityof cylinders in said casing, a piston in each cylinder, a piston-rodconnected to each pist0n,a main shaft, a crank on the shaft, a wrist-pinon the crank connected with all thepistons, a series ofantifriction-balls supporting the main shaft, two inclined ringsforminga track for said balls, a sleeve threaded into the casing foradjusting one of said rings, and a sleeve threaded into said sleeve foradjusting the other of said rings, substantially as set forth.

3. In'a fluid-pressure motor, the combination of a. casing, a pluralityof cylinders in said casing, a piston. in each cylinder, a. piston-rodconnectedto each piston,a main'shaft,

a crank on the shaft, awrist-pin on the crank connected with all thepistons, aseries of antifriction-balls supporting the .main shaft, twoinclined rings forming a track for said balls, a sleeve threaded intothe casing for adjusting one of said'rings, andfla sleeve threaded intosaid sleevefor' adjusting the other of said rings, the threadsof both ofsaid sleeves being oppositely cut, substantially as set forth.

4. In a fluid-pressure motor, the combina; tion of a casing, a pluralityof cylinders ;in. said casing, a piston in each cylinder, a pis ton-rodconnected toveach piston, atmain shaft, a crank on the shaft, awrist pinon the crank connectedwith all the pistons, a series of antifrictionballs supporting the main shaft, two inclined rings forming a track for,

said balls, a sleeve threaded into the casing for adjusting one of saidrings, alsleeve threaded into said sleeve for adjusting the other ofsaid rings, and a packing between the second sleeve and'the shaft,substantially as set forth.

5. In a fluid-pressure motor, the combina tion of a casing, a pluralityof cylinders in said casing, a piston in each cylinder, a pmton-rodconnected to each piston, a main shaft, a crank on the shaft, awrist-pin on the crank connected with all the pistons, a series ofantifri'ction balls. supporting the main shaft, two inclined ringsforminga track for said balls, a sleeve threaded into the-casing foradjusting one of said rings, a sleevethreaded'into said sleeve foradjusting the other of said rings, a packing between the second sleeveand the shaft, and aring engaging the second sleeve for holding saidpack-- I ing in place, substantially asset forth.

6. In a fiuid pressure motor of the class described, the combination ofa casing, a'cylinder therein mounted in trunnions and ar ranged tooscillate, a yoke straddling the cylinder and connected to each of saidtrunnions, and a pump operated from said yoke, substantially as setforth.

7. In a fluid-pressure motor of the class de-- scribed, the combinationof a casing, a cylinder therein mounted in trunnions and arranged tooscillate,a yoke straddling the cylinder and connected at itscenter toeach of said trunnions, and two pumps operated-from the ends of saidyoke, substantially asset forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 20th day of July,190l. I

' AMOUR- COLUMBUS SMITH. Witnesses:

JNo. ROBT. TAYLOR, AROHIBALD GRAY REESE.

